Brandon Aiyuk and Haason Reddick both want to be paid. An argument can easily be made that each deserves to be paid. But a few important questions remain with only three weeks before the regular season begins.
Over the past couple of weeks, Aiyuk has balked at multiple contract offers from the Browns, Patriots, and Steelers, according to league sources. Barring a new deal, he's slated to play out the fifth-year option on his rookie contract that would pay him $14.12 million. That figure is well short of the $30 million that sources say Aiyuk is seeking, which would put him in the top five in the league.
Aiyuk has strong trade-destination preferences, including Pittsburgh and Washington, but it's a bit wild to imagine the 49ers parting ways with him now. Ultimately, they'd prefer to keep the receiver, who's blossomed under head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Aiyuk has hauled in 153 receptions, 2,357 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons, and targets to him last season generated a 124.0 passer rating, according to PFF.
His established success within San Francisco's offense could be part of the reason why he reportedly turned down $32 million per year from the rebuilding Patriots. As one league source told theScore, Aiyuk knows he can "thrive under Shanahan … he just wants to be paid top dollar."
The wide receiver market continues to boom this offseason: The Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown, Eagles' A.J. Brown, and Vikings' Justin Jefferson all inked new extensions to join the Dolphins' Tyreek Hill among those earning $30 million or more a season. Future deals for the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb, and Aiyuk could reset the position's salary ceiling.
The Eagles (Brown, DeVonta Smith) and Dolphins (Hill, Jaylen Waddle) have shown it's possible to roster two wide receivers with massive contracts. The Niners could be next with Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
Aiyuk could be the potential domino to end 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams' holdout. Williams has three years left on his contract but is seeking a new deal since his current contract has no guaranteed money remaining.
Reddick-Jets staredown intensifies
The stalemate between Reddick and the New York Jets took another crazy turn this week when the Pro Bowl edge rusher requested a trade from the team that only acquired him from Philadelphia in the spring. The Jets clapped back with a statement that said they have no intention of satisfying Reddick's request.
"We have informed Haason that we will not trade him, that he is expected to be here with his teammates, and that he will continue to be fined per the CBA if he does not report," Jets general manager Joe Douglas said in a statement. "Since the trade discussions back in March, we have been clear, direct, and consistent with our position."
The Jets acquired Reddick in late March for a 2026 conditional third-round pick. According to league sources, Philadelphia became aware of Reddick's demands for a new contract shortly after the season concluded. Coincidentally, the Eagles signed former Jets pass rusher Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51.1-million deal in free agency.
Reddick's frustrations are rooted around the structure of his current contract. He's in the final year of a three-year, $45-million deal he signed as a free agent in 2022. Reddick outperformed that contract in Year 1 when he had a league-high - and career-best - 19.5 sacks during the Eagles' run to Super Bowl LVII. He's compiled four consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks. Under the parameters of his deal, Reddick will make a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base pay this season.
Reddick's $15-million annual average ranks 19th among edge rushers, per Over The Cap. According to multiple league sources, Reddick is seeking to join the 12 edge rushers who average more than $20 million per season. At a minimum, Reddick's new average salary should match Huff's $17.03 million.
The Jets boast a Super Bowl-contending roster, and Reddick was expected to join a defense that finished third in yards allowed (292.3) and tied for fifth in takeaways (27). Instead, he's accumulated more than $1 million in fines for skipping training camp.
While the Jets might be reluctant to hand the soon-to-be 30-year-old a whopping new deal, there's at least one comparable scenario that both parties could refer to as a potential solution. Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, who turns 30 on Oct. 29, signed a two-year deal worth $49 million in free agency. Reddick and Hunter own the exact same sack production over the past two seasons (27 each). Could an annual average of $24.5 million satisfy Reddick?
"I think the best thing for him is to be a Jet because it's going to be a fun ride," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said this week.
That ride is currently at an alarming pit stop. For contract negotiations to resume and, perhaps more importantly, good faith to be restored, it might be in Reddick's best interest to show face again at 1 Jets Drive.
Expectations rise in Philadelphia
Following their disastrous 1-6 finish to last season and a disappointing wild-card exit at the hands of the Buccaneers, the Eagles are aiming to make their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
Head coach Nick Sirianni returns for his fourth year having compiled a 34-17 record with three straight playoff appearances. But exactly how much patience does the front office have? ESPN reported earlier in the offseason that team owner Jeffrey Lurie looked into former Patriots coach Bill Belichick's availability immediately after the Eagles' season ended.
The front office then brought in new coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio to mend the ship while Sirianni has taken a clear step back from offensive game-planning.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts seems poised to rebound from his career-high 15 interceptions in 2023 since he's surrounded by a formidable offensive line and an array of weapons such as Brown and Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert, and new running back Saquon Barkley. If Moore can get Hurts back into MVP-like form, the QB's stellar numbers from 2022 (4,461 total yards, 35 touchdowns, six interceptions) again could be within reach - or surpassed.
Hurts, 26, has enjoyed the best training camp of his career as he continues to install Moore's motion-friendly offense and keep turnovers to a minimum. Defensively, the Eagles added youth and depth to its coverage unit through first- and second-round draft selections Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Other key additions include Huff, linebacker Devin White, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
It might be difficult to imagine any team overcoming last year's dysfunction and turmoil, but talent reigns in the NFL, and the Eagles are plentiful there. Given the uncertainty on Fangio's defense, with new personnel expected to start or play significant roles across all three levels, the pressure on Hurts and the offense will only continue to rise as the regular season approaches.
Josh Tolentino covers the NFL for theScore.
